diff --git a/drivers/media/tuners/si2157.c b/drivers/media/tuners/si2157.c
index e87040d6eca7..898e0f9f8b70 100644
--- a/drivers/media/tuners/si2157.c
+++ b/drivers/media/tuners/si2157.c
@@ -118,6 +118,11 @@ static int si2157_init(struct dvb_frontend *fe)
 			goto err;
 	}
 
+	if (dev->dont_load_firmware) {
+		dev_info(&client->dev, "device is buggy, skipping firmware download\n");
+		goto skip_fw_download;
+	}
+
 	/* query chip revision */
 	memcpy(cmd.args, "\x02", 1);
 	cmd.wlen = 1;
@@ -440,6 +445,7 @@ static int si2157_probe(struct i2c_client *client,
 	i2c_set_clientdata(client, dev);
 	dev->fe = cfg->fe;
 	dev->inversion = cfg->inversion;
+	dev->dont_load_firmware = cfg->dont_load_firmware;
 	dev->if_port = cfg->if_port;
 	dev->chiptype = (u8)id->driver_data;
 	dev->if_frequency = 5000000; /* default value of property 0x0706 */
diff --git a/drivers/media/tuners/si2157.h b/drivers/media/tuners/si2157.h
index c22ca784f43f..ffdece3c2eaa 100644
--- a/drivers/media/tuners/si2157.h
+++ b/drivers/media/tuners/si2157.h
@@ -11,29 +11,34 @@
 #include <media/media-device.h>
 #include <media/dvb_frontend.h>
 
-/*
- * I2C address
- * 0x60
+/**
+ * struct si2157_config - configuration parameters for si2157
+ *
+ * @fe:
+ *	frontend returned by driver
+ * @mdev:
+ *	media device returned by driver
+ * @inversion:
+ *	spectral inversion
+ * @dont_load_firmware:
+ *	Instead of uploading a new firmware, use the existing one
+ * @if_port:
+ *	Port selection
+ *	Select the RF interface to use (pins 9+11 or 12+13)
+ *
+ * Note:
+ *	The I2C address of this demod is 0x60.
  */
 struct si2157_config {
-	/*
-	 * frontend
-	 */
 	struct dvb_frontend *fe;
 
 #if defined(CONFIG_MEDIA_CONTROLLER)
 	struct media_device *mdev;
 #endif
 
-	/*
-	 * Spectral Inversion
-	 */
-	bool inversion;
+	unsigned int inversion:1;
+	unsigned int dont_load_firmware:1;
 
-	/*
-	 * Port selection
-	 * Select the RF interface to use (pins 9+11 or 12+13)
-	 */
 	u8 if_port;
 };
 
diff --git a/drivers/media/tuners/si2157_priv.h b/drivers/media/tuners/si2157_priv.h
index 2bda903358da..778f81b39996 100644
--- a/drivers/media/tuners/si2157_priv.h
+++ b/drivers/media/tuners/si2157_priv.h
@@ -23,8 +23,9 @@ enum si2157_pads {
 struct si2157_dev {
 	struct mutex i2c_mutex;
 	struct dvb_frontend *fe;
-	bool active;
-	bool inversion;
+	unsigned int active:1;
+	unsigned int inversion:1;
+	unsigned int dont_load_firmware:1;
 	u8 chiptype;
 	u8 if_port;
 	u32 if_frequency;